Osteospermum plant named ‘Sunpix0805’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Sunpix0805’, characterized by its compact and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; daisy-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunpix0805’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunpix0805’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark. The objective of theprogram is to create and develop new Osteospermum cultivars withuniformly mounded plant habit, freely flowering habit and attractiveinflorescence coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination by theInventor in May, 2006 of a proprietary selection of Osteospermumecklonis identified as code number 00.90.019, not patented, as thefemale, or seed parent with the Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunny Serena’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,693, as the male, or pollen, parent.The new Osteospermum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense,Denmark in May, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark sinceNovember, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this newOsteospermum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunpix0805’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sunpix0805’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum:

-   -   1. Compact and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Daisy-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray        florets.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact and more        freely branching than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum have smaller leaves than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum have smaller inflorescences        than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ from plants of the male parent,‘Sunny Serena’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact than and not        as vigorous as plants of ‘Sunny Serena’.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum have smaller leaves and        inflorescences than plants of ‘Sunny Serena’.    -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Sunny Serena’ differ in        ray floret color as plants of ‘Sunny Serena’ have pale        yellow-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of Osteospermumecklonis ‘Sunny Alex’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Odense, Denmark, plants of the new Osteospermum differedfrom plants of ‘Sunny Alex’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum were more compact than plants        of ‘Sunny Alex’.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum were less vigorous than plants        of ‘Sunny Alex’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Osteospermum. These photographs shows the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Osteospermum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Sunpix0805’ .

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of ‘Sunpix0805’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif. during the spring in apolyethylene-covered greenhouse and under conditions and practices whichapproximate those generally used in commercial Osteospermum production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C.and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were pinched one time.Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs and description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunpix0805’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 00.90.019,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunny            Serena’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,693.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at 18° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About twelve days at 18° C.            to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About three weeks            at 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About four weeks            at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; light tan in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Compact, upright and mounded plant            habit.        -   Plant height.—About 24 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 32 cm.        -   Lateral branch length.—About 11 cm.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement/quantity: Alternate,            simple; leaves sessile; about 17 leaves per lateral branch.            Length: About 4.7 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Narrowly            oblanceolate. Apex: Abruptly acuminate. Base: Narrowly            cuneate. Margin: Entire with infrequent deep indentations.            Texture, upper and lower surface: Slightly pubescent. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves,            upper surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 144B. Fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137A; venation,            close to 143C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescences; inflorescences            positioned above and beyond the foliage; inflorescences            terminal and axillary. Disc and ray florets developing            acropetally on a capitulum. Freely flowering habit; about            nine inflorescences developing per lateral branch.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; musky.        -   Flowering response.—Plants of the new Osteospermum flower            continuously from February to September; inflorescences last            about two to three weeks on the plant; inflorescences            persistent.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About            9 mm. Shape: Spherical. Color: Close to 143B.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5 cm. Depth (height):            About 1.8 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.1 cm. Receptacle            diameter: About 8 mm. Receptacle height: About 3 mm.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2.9 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Narrowly oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse with shallow lobes.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 20            in a single whorl. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to 9A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 1A. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 15B. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 12B; color becoming closer to 15B with            development.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex, five-pointed. Length:            About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per            inflorescence: About 80. Color: Immature: Close to 199A.            Mature: Close to 166A; with development, close to N186A.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 18. Length:            About 1.1 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3.9 cm. Length,            axillary peduncle: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderate. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Erect.            Aspect, axillary peduncle: About 15° from vertical. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: Close to 143C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About 1 mm.            Anther color: Close to 185D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 24A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc            florets. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape:            Two-branched. Stigma length: About 1 mm. Stigma color: Close            to 183B. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to            159D.        -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Osteospermum.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not    been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Osteospermums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind    and temperatures ranging from about −4° C. to about 30° C.

1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘Sunpix0805’ asillustrated and described.